‘We are grateful’ But some social housing beneficiaries question need for Holness plaques

Two of the three plaques plastered across a woman’s government-built home have already dropped off, and she has declared her intention to toss the other in the bin.

The woman, who says she is deeply grateful for the house that changed her family’s life, told THE STAR that her decision has nothing to do with rejecting the home — she is grateful for it. Her problem is being publicly identified as a recipient of government assistance.

“It was three of them they put on the wall, but two drop off and one left and me ago take off the last one,” she said.

Her decision thrusts her into the centre of the growing controversy over plaques bearing the name of Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on houses built under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP).

Critics have argued that the markers can publicly identify vulnerable Jamaicans as recipients of government assistance.

The plaque battle erupted publicly after Opposition Spokesperson on Social Protection and Social Transformation, Dr Angela Brown Burke, criticised the practice, arguing that putting markers bearing Holness’ name on NSHP homes could compromise beneficiaries’ privacy and dignity.

But, for the recipient with whom THE STAR spoke, the issue is not about rejecting the house. She says the government-built home has made a significant difference in her life — but she never agreed to have it publicly branded.

“In no way am I saying that I’m not grateful for this programme and grateful for being a beneficiary,” she stressed.

Some recipients, she surmised, are reluctant to openly criticise aspects of the programme because they feared there could be consequences. She said a previous experience left her wary.

“I remember there was an issue at my home [that] I didn’t know existed until it happened,” she said.

“I complained about it because, at the time, mi never understand what was taking place. They come and a ask why mi seh this and that,” she added.

Prime Minister Holness has stated that, since taxpayers fund the houses, publicly identifying the Government’s work through the installation of plaques is justified.

But the beneficiary told THE STAR she never consented to the plaques.

“They did not give me an option to have it pan mi house or not have it pan mi house,” said the woman who described herself as a Comrade, which is a term commonly associated with supporters of the opposition People’s National Party.

She predicted that some of those now furious about the plaques may not see it as a reason to vote against Holness’ party when the next elections are held.

“As I sit here as a Comrade, I’m telling you that people might be talking now and a complain bout this, but a them same set a people when election time come a vote him in back,” she said.

Meanwhile, a second beneficiary, who received his home about two years ago, said the plaque was unnecessary because the houses are already easy to identify.

“Separate and aside from the design, because, as well and goodly constructed as them be, yuh can know when a one Government house,” he said.

He believes the government could keep its own records without effectively putting a sign on beneficiaries’ homes.

“I don’t know. I just think they can keep these records without the need for the plaque as this big label,” he said.

“We can already identify the house from the structure a the house. Mi nuh see why it need nothing extra, cause nobody else inna Jamaica nuh build dem house suh,” he added.

And, again, gratitude collides with embarrassment.

“It did me and my family one big significant deal. In all honesty, fi sit dung and medz it feel wrong in some way, because people can easily label you as ungrateful,” he reasoned.

But, he said, the label has become part of how his family is identified in the community.

“I think is just a shame thing. I don’t know how to explain it cause it labelled by everybody inna the community already. If nobody a ask fi directions, them nuh ramp fi say, ‘the government house dung deh so’,” he said.

Still, he is not prepared to let the controversy erase what the programme has meant to his family.

“Either way, I am grateful for the help. I believe I have the free will to remove the plaque,” he said. “I can’t begin to imagine life without this home provided to me by the government.”

The NSHP has provided about 350 houses to some of Jamaica’s most vulnerable citizens, benefiting more than 1,600 persons across the island.